Having never traveled out of the country, I believe London was the perfect place to start. I was a bit overwhelmed by how large the city was as I am not used to that environment, but my professors, TAs, classmates, and the Accent faculty made the city seem much more accessible and less intimidating.

My favorite part about London’s culture was the transportation. With Oyster Cards provided through the program, buses and the underground were easy to navigate. Additionally, map applications on our phones and maps displayed in the stations were easy to understand and made travel less stressful. Though we had to pay out of pocket to travel via train, it was definitely my favorite form of transportation.

With access to such convenient forms of transportation and plenty of time off from class to explore, my roommate and I were able to travel to multiple cities and countries including Ireland and Scotland. This free time allowed us to create even more memories and get more out of being in Europe. I also appreciated this time because it allowed me to become closer with a few of my classmates and build lasting friendships.

Academically and professionally, this experience allowed me to realize my goals and make valuable connections with university professors who will assist me in those goals. Specifically, I really enjoyed the osteology lab portion of this program, and this cemented my goal to pursue bio-archaeology. I was also directed to work in the bio-archaeology lab at MSU by one of my professors and a classmate who has worked in that lab.

This program exceeded my expectations and set me up for my future. I did not expect this experience to give me such a clear view of my future and the confidence to achieve my goals, but it also made me eager to travel more and provided me with friends who share my interests and goals. I am so grateful for this opportunity, and I am positive it is an experience I will never forget.

Name: Emily Eickholt
Status: Junior
Major: Anthropology
Hometown: Williamsburg, Michigan
Program: Forensic Anthropology and Human Identification